Striker on Wigan radar.
By Graeme Dey
Premiership Wigan are eyeing St Johnstone striker Collin Samuel. Wigan are on the lookout for a front player to replaced the disgraced Marlon King who was jailed for assaulting a woman last week.
Top target for them is reputed to be Espanyol’s hit-man Raul Tamudo. However, boss Roberto Martinez has also had scouts checking out Samuel.
Wigan already have former Saint Jason Scotland on their books. St Johnstone will be without both Steven Milne and Stuart McCaffrey for Saturday’s trip to Aberdeen.
However, boss Derek McInnes is hopeful Samuel will make it despite still being bothered by the knee injury which forced him to miss the cup win over Dundee United.
“We think Sammy will be back training either tomorrow or Friday,” said McInnes yesterday.
Saints have dropped their interest in a trio of trialists who featured in Tuesday’s closed doors clash with Kilmarnock.
“We won’t be taking the matter further because they wouldn’t have improved us,” explained the manager.
Meanwhile, speculation was mounting last night that Saints’ midfielder Murray Davidson is in line for a shock full international call-up when the Scotland squad is announced this morning for the friendly with Wales.
Martinez sizes up move for Tamudo.
Neil Barker.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is tracking Espanyol striker Raul Tamudo. Martinez needs extra firepower in attack, having lost Marlon King.
Wigan scouts have checked out Tamudo in recent weeks. He has been attracting interest from a number of Premier League clubs.
Signing a new striker will be a priority for Martinez when the transfer window reopens in January.
Martinez said: "We are now one striker short. The squad is one body less and it is important we address that situation.
"We are following different players in different leagues and different markets.
"In the long-term, we need to make sure not just regarding the striking position we keep improving, but helping the players we already have here become strikers."
Wigan have also been linked with St Johnstone striker Colin Samuel. The Trinidad & Tobago inter- national is out of contract next summer.
He is a pacy front man who previously played for Falkirk.